image source, Reuters
Angry fans attending Lionel Messi’s tour of India broke seats and threw objects onto the pitch after his performance at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Thousands of fans had paid up to 12,000 rupees ($133) to see the soccer star, but were disappointed when he walked across the field and was hidden by a large group of officials and celebrities.
When the Argentina and Inter Miami striker was quickly removed by security after about 20 minutes, some of the crowd became hostile.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the developments.
image source, Getty Images
Messi is in India for his GOAT (Greatest of All Time) tour, a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
His tour began with the inauguration of a 21-meter-tall statue in Calcutta, assembled by a team of 45 people in 27 days. Messi appeared virtually for security reasons.
Thousands of fans traveled to the city stadium to see the footballer in person.
They sang, bought T-shirts and wore headbands with the slogan “I love Messi.”
Messi initially walked around the stadium greeting those in attendance, but after his performance ended abruptly on Saturday, some frustrated fans stormed the pitch, destroying banners and tents, while others threw plastic chairs and water bottles.
The 2022 World Cup winner, considered one of the greatest footballers in history, was scheduled to play a short exhibition game at the stadium, reports the AFP news agency.
image source, Reuters
“There were only leaders and actors around Messi… So why did they call us? We have a ticket that cost us Rs 12,000 but we couldn’t even see his face,” a fan at the stadium told Indian news agency ANI.
Another angry fan told news agency Press Trust of India that people had paid the equivalent of a month’s salary to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“I paid 5,000 rupees for the ticket and came with my son to see Messi, not politicians.”
“The police and the military were taking selfies, and that’s management’s fault.”
Messi was accompanied on his short visit by his Inter Miami teammate and Uruguayan star Luis Suárez and Argentinian Rodrigo de Paul.
According to Reuters news agency, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan also met Messi on the same day.
image source, Reuters
Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal and has a huge football fan base in an otherwise cricket-crazy country.
In the city, hundreds of thousands of fans often gather in stadiums to watch a derby between local clubs.
The BBC has contacted Lionel Messi’s representatives for comment.
Banerjee announced the investigation and apologized to Messi and “sports lovers” for the incident at the stadium.
“The (investigative) commission will conduct a detailed investigation into the incident, determine responsibilities and recommend measures to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents in the future,” the prime minister said in X.
A police officer told reporters that the “main organizer” of the event had been arrested, without giving further details, according to AFP.
Authorities would examine how organizers could refund money to those who bought tickets, the agent added.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) said it did not attend the “private event”.
In the early hours of Saturday, thousands of people lined the streets and gathered outside the hotel where Messi was staying to try to see him.
Hitesh, a 24-year-old corporate lawyer, flew nearly 1,200 miles from the southern Indian city of Bengaluru.
“For me it’s a personal thing. As you can see, I’m quite small and I love playing football with my friends,” Hitesh told the BBC as he stood in front of the statue.
“Messi is the player I identify with the most, no one can match his talent. He gives me hope that with talent you can achieve anything.”
It is just a small part of the tribute India is paying to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker.
Fans can also visit the “Hello Messi” fan zone, with a life-size replica of Messi on a throne, a room decorated with some of his trophies and a replica of his Miami home with mannequins of the player and his family on a balcony.
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